Ducati announced a new Multistrada today, which is being displayed at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, Italy this week. The Ducati Multistrada has always been more of a sport touring bike than an adventure bike, with limited off-road protection, 17″ cast wheels and a road-biased suspension. A motorcycle much more comfortable on a road racing course than a jeep trail.

Now Ducati has announced the Multistrada 1200 Enduro for 2016, a more off-road capable version of the Italian manufacturer’s sport-oriented adventure bike. This new model takes the Multistrada platform and improves it with key updates for off-road adventure travel.

The most obvious change seen on the Multistrada 1200 Enduro are a set of wire-spoked wheels and an increase in front wheel size from 17″ to a more dirt-oriented 19″. A beefier skid plate and raised exhaust offer better protection in rocky terrain and the new Enduro model also sits higher than the standard Multistrada, due to an increase in suspension travel from 6.7″ (170mm) to 7.9″ (200mm) front and rear. Electronics have also been updated to enable more off-road capability. Advanced electronics recognize when the bike is being jumped and automatically adjust the suspension for softer landings.

Also notable is the absence of the Multistrada’s distinctive single-sided swingarm — replaced with a shell-cast aluminium double-sided swingarm designed specifically for off-road use. Seat height is now 34.3 inches (870mm), up from the standard’s 32.5 inches (825mm) on the low setting. Range is significantly increased thanks to a new 8 gallon (30L) fuel tank that gives the new Multistrada nearly 3 extra gallons of fuel. This gives the new Multi the ability to travel roughly 280 miles (450km) between fuel stops.

All this new equipment has increased the wet weight of the bike from 511 lbs. (232kg) to 560 lbs. (254kg). With the release of the 2016 Multistrada 1200 Enduro, Ducati is ready to go head-to-head with other big-tank Adventure Bike models on the market (e.g. BMW R1200GS Adventure, KTM 1290 Super Adventure, Moto Guzzi Stelvio).

The Multistrada Enduro will be offered in Panthom grey, Star white silk and Ducati red.

Prices will range from $21,295 to $21,495 and the new Enduro model will be available on US showroom floors beginning April 2016. For more information go to Ducati.com

Top Big-Tank Adventure Tourer Specs Comparison

Videos

Check out the Multistrada Enduro being tested on an off-road course. You’ve never seen a Multistrada jumped like this before!

The new Multistrada 1200 Enduro shows off more its cross-continent travel capabilities.

Photo Gallery

Author: Rob Dabney

Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.